Justice Delayed (Memphis Cold Case #1)(26)

Andi looked over Will’s shoulder, and her heart sank. Blurry was an understatement. But the letter did appear to be on blue paper like Jimmy said. “Can you do anything with that?” she asked Will.

He bit his lip. “I don’t know. Mr. Simmons, may I send this to my phone?”

“Sure. I was going to get my granddaughter to do it tonight.”

While Will transferred the photo, Andi turned to the couple. “Mr. Simmons, do you have any vacation time?”

“A couple of weeks.”

If whoever murdered Lacey had someone steal the letter, there was no telling what else they might do if they found out Walter had seen it. She eyed them grimly. “This might be a good time to take it.”



Andi turned to Will when he pulled in beside her car at the TV station. “Thanks for letting me tag along today.”

He put the car in park and opened his door.

“You don’t have to get out.” Andi checked her watch. Seven fifty-eight. She’d been afraid Mrs. Simmons’s insistence that they stay and have a bowl of homemade soup would make her late for the meeting with Chloe, but she had a good hour to get ready for it. The park on Beale Street was only a few blocks away.

“I’m going to check out your car, then follow you home.”

That was why she hadn’t told Will about the meeting with Chloe. He was like her brother—too protective. She’d thought about it a time or two, but she knew him too well. He’d find a way to keep her from the meeting or would want to go with her, and Chloe had insisted she not bring any cops. No, it was up to Andi to help the girl.

“I’m not going home,” she said. “I have work to do here at the station.” She pointed to a white Prius next to the building. “And Treece is here. We’ll follow each other. And you don’t have to worry about someone breaking into the house, since we have the security system. We’re safe now.”

“At least let me walk you to the door,” Will said and climbed out of the car.

“You don’t have to do this,” she protested when he opened her car door and held out his arm.

“Don’t be so stubborn. It’s dark out here,” he said. “You take too many risks.”

“Risks are the price you pay to make a difference,” she retorted but allowed him to loop his arm in hers. Sometimes, it was nice to have a knight in shining armor. Especially one with Will’s rugged appeal.

At the station door, she turned to him, hoping he didn’t want to come inside and hang around. “What time are you going to Lacey’s house tomorrow? I’d like to meet you.”

“I’m going right now if I can find your brother and get a key. She may have kept a copy of the letter she mailed Jimmy.”

“Well, if you go back tomorrow, I’d like to tag along.”

“Brad won’t like it.”

“I have a meeting with the police director in the morning. What if he okays it?”

“Then I won’t have a choice, and neither will your brother.”

She bumped him with her shoulder. “That’s why I made the appointment.”

He bumped her back. “Why does that not surprise me?”

Andi keyed in the code for the door, and when she turned back around to thank him, her heart stilled. Even though the overhead light cast his face in shadows, she caught yearning in his eyes. She bit her bottom lip, and for a couple of heartbeats, neither of them spoke.

Lights swung into the parking lot, breaking the spell. Will stepped back. “Well, see you tomorrow. I’ll text you the time.”

Andi collected herself. “Yeah. Tomorrow.”

Inside the station, she walked to her desk, replaying what just happened. Was it possible that Will was interested in her? It seemed like he’d wanted to kiss her just then. Suddenly her steps became lighter.

“You look mighty happy,” Treece said when Andi passed her desk.

“What?”

“Nothing. I’ll be finished in about fifteen minutes if you want to wait. We can talk about what you learned in Nashville when we get home.”

She’d texted Treece on the way to Nashville, but nothing since. “Ah . . . I have a meeting at nine.”

“Who with?”

If she told Treece, she might call her brother or Will. “A source.”

Treece eyed her. “Why are you being evasive?”

She never kept secrets from Treece. Not when she’d gone to interview the gang lord or when she’d gone to get the video of the dog, or any of the other times most people would’ve told her she was crazy. Treece understood her.

“A girl called last night after our segment aired. She’s a runaway, and like the others we interviewed, she’s working the streets. But she wants out. I’m going to meet her near Handy Park and go from there.”

Treece’s brown eyes didn’t waver. “I see. And you plan to go by yourself?”

Andi nodded. “She said not to bring cops. That her pimp would find out and kill her.”

“So you’re not telling Brad or Will?”

“No. I’m just going to meet her, and if she’ll come with me, I’ll take her to the apartment. Then I’ll tell them.” She looked away from her friend’s scrutiny. “Look, I know it’s dangerous, but Chloe is expecting me. She wants off the streets, and I can’t ignore it.”